Mike McFarland Dies: ‘One Piece’, ‘Dragon Ball Z’ Voice Actor Was 56

Mike McFarland, a veteran voice actor known for his work on English‑language dubs of popular anime series, died on Wednesday, September 10, at the age of 56 after a battle with brain cancer.

McFarland’s most recognizable performances included the characters Master Roshi and Yajirobe (also spelled Najirobe in some credits) in the “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball Z” series, as well as Buggy the Clown in “One Piece.” His voice work spanned the Funimation era of anime localization and later extended to the Crunchyroll English dub productions.

In addition to his voice‑acting roles, McFarland contributed as a script writer, director, and line producer for numerous English‑dub projects. His behind‑the‑scenes work helped shape the dialogue and pacing of many series, supporting the broader effort to bring Japanese animation to English‑speaking audiences.

Throughout his career, McFarland lent his talents to a wide range of anime titles beyond the three flagship series, earning a reputation as a prolific and reliable figure in the dubbing community. Colleagues remembered him for his professionalism and dedication to the craft.

While most outlets list his “Dragon Ball” role as Yajirobe, one source records the name as Najirobe, reflecting a minor discrepancy in spelling across credits.